Euclid’s algorithm = continued fractions = squares in a rectangle

[The Euclidean algorithm] is the granddaddy of all algorithms, because it is the oldest nontrivial algorithm that has survived to the present day. – Donald Knuth

This picture is of squares in a 200×117 rectangle.
It represents:

1. What you would get if you (using just compass and straight edge) drew the biggest square you could in the rectangle (117×117), then again (83×83) in the space left, then simply kept repeating as long as possible. No calculation needed! Clearly there are 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 1, 3 of each size square.

200/117 ‘just happens’ to = 1000/585, which is derived from to 1585/1000, the decimal value of log 3/log 2 rounded to 3 places. It is a number involved in constructing musical notes/scales/tunings – see Why 12 notes in an octave?

1000/585 may seem a very different number from 1585/1000.. but if I had used that as the big rectangle, first step would be to draw a 1000×1000 square..
and then I’m left with 1000/585 in the next step of Euclid’s algorithm. And everything after is exactly the same.